September 17
1916 – The Browns George Sisler wins his final game as a pitcher, besting Walter Johnson, 1-0, in St. Louis. Sisler will become St. Louis’ regular first sacker in 1917.
1923 – It’s two wins in a single day for the Big Train. In home twinbill against St. Louis, Johnson relieves in the
opener of the 5-4, 10 inning Nats victory. As the starter in game two, Johnson receives ample run support in a 12-2 win that is called after 7 innings.
1924 – The Senators now find themselves in dead heat with New York atop the AL. Even though Washington wins in Cleveland, 3-2, the Yanks sweep a doubleheader in St. Louis, which enables the New Yorkers to climb into a tie for 1st.
1934 – The Nats sock it to the Tribe at Cleveland, 13-6. Washington torches Cleveland pitching for 21 hits, with Pete Sosko leading the parade with 5 hits. 18 year old Reese Diggs pitches the complete game for the Nats, his only major league win.
1953 – Bob Porterfield records his 21st victory, downing Chicago, 3-2, in D.C. Porterfield’s 21 wins are the most for a Washington hurler since Alvin Crowder (24) and Earl Whitehill (22) in 1933.
1955 – Brooks Robinson makes a 2-for-4 debut, as the hometown O’s stop the Senators, 3-1.
1960 – Falling to a game above .500, Washington loses at home to Boston, 2-1. Ted Williams‘ 2-run home run off Pedro Ramos in the 6th is the key blow. For Washington, Jim Lemon clouts his 38th of the year. The Senators will go on to lose 15 of their final 18 contests before departing for Minnesota.
1970 – Dick Bosman fires a 5 hitter over Baltimore at RFK, winning 2-0. Nonetheless, the Orioles clinch the AL East with the Yankees loss to Boston. For Washington, this is their final win of 1970, as they will lose their final 14 decisions.
1971 – American League owners announce that a special meeting will be held on September 21 to discuss the financial state of Bob Short. When Short is asked whether he will seek permission from the AL owners to move the team to Texas, Short replies, “I’m trying to work this thing out and keep the team in Washington.”
Senators Birthdays
Cisco Carlos B Sept. 17, 1940, Still Living
Cisco Carlos was purchased from the White Sox, his original team, in August of 1969. In 6 games, Carlos would go 1-1 for the Nats during the latter part of 1969.
The righthander would begin 1970 in Denver, Washington’s triple A affiliate. Recalled in September, Carlos posted a 1.50 ERA in 5 relief appearances before leaving the majors.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/play…hp?p=carloci01
Carl Edward Bouldin B Sept. 17, 1939, Still Living
Another righthanded pitcher, Bouldin pitched his entire big league career with the expansion Senators. Unfortunately, Bouldin appeared in only 27 games from 1961 to 1964, earning a lifetime mark of 3-8 and an ERA of 6.15.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/play…hp?p=bouldca01
Leslie Earl Peden B Sept. 17, 1923 D Feb. 11, 2002
Peden, a catcher, appeared in 9 games for the 1953 Senators. The Rule 5 draftee from the Cubs organization hit for a .250 average with 1 HR and 1 RBI in his short major league journey.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/play…hp?p=pedenle01
Allen Jones Gettel B Sept. 17, 1947 D Apr. 8, 2005
The definition of a journeyman, this pitcher hurled for the Yankees, Cleveland, White Sox, Senators, NY Giants and Cardinals over a 10 year career spanning from 1945-1955.
Gettel’s stay as a Senator would be for 1 month and 3 days in 1949. Purchased from the White Sox on July 12, the native of Norfolk, VA chalked up an 0-2 mark with a 5.45 ERA in 16 games. On August 15, the Senators sold Gettel to Oakland of the PCL.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/play…hp?p=getteal01
Thomas Livingstone Carlton Taylor B Sept. 17, 1892 D Apr. 5, 1956
Unlike other short time Senators, Tommy Taylor‘s short stay was unique. Taylor’s moment in the sun was starting game 7 of the 1924 World Series at 3B, when Ossie Bluege was forced to play SS in place of an injured Roger Peckinpaugh. Coincidentially, that would also be Taylor’s final major league game. Taylor went hitless in 2 AB in that World Series, but was a member of the only Senators world championship.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/play…hp?p=tayloto01
Roy Ellis Moran B Sept 17, 1884 D July 18, 1966
Moran appeared in 7 games for the 1912 version of the Senators, his only major league appearances. His line: A .154 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI and 2 hits in 13 at bats.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/play…hp?p=moranro01
Frank M. Schulte B Sept. 17, 1882 D Oct. 2, 1949
Needless to say, by the time Frank “Wildfire” Schulte came to the nation’s capital to complete his career, his best years were behind him.
Schulte made his mark for the Cubs from 1904 to 1916. A member of the Cubs last world championship team in 1908, Schulte was also the 1911 winner of the Chalmers Award (NL Most Valuable Player). “Wildfire” blazed to a .300 average that season with 21 HR and 107 RBI.
After stops with the Pirates and Phillies, Schulte became a Nat in 1918. In 93 games during the war shortened year, the outfielder hit .288 with 44 RBI.
